Business leaders: High parking rates will hurt city economy

Higher higher parking rates and extended hours, in a down economy, will harm the viability of small businesses across Seattle, says a letter signed by the Downtown Seattle Association and leaders of 14 business groups.

The letter objects to a Seattle Department of Transportation plan to hike meter rates to $4 an hour downtown and $2 in such neighborhoods as Fremont and the U District. SDOT would charge for on-street parking until 8 p.m. in some neighborhoods.

“Setting all-day rates based on the one hour of the day when demand is greatest is the equivalent of the Seattle Seahawks charging Super Bowl ticket prices for regular season games,” the business leaders write.

“We believe this approach is fundamentally flawed and will discourage people from parking in neighborhood business districts.”

The letter, sent to the Seattle City Council, urges council members: “Consider for a moment that under this proposal Seattle would have some of the most expensive on-street parking of any city in the country.”

The letter is signed by leaders of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, the Greater University Chamber of Commerce, the Seattle Hotel Association, the Belltown Business Association, Washington Restaurant Association and Seattle Business Coalition.

The letter praised the Council for setting a policy direction last November that requires a data-driven approach to meter rates, that will ensure that parking is available and support vitality of neighborhood business districts.

But the proposed meter rates are not consistent with these goals, argues the letter, adding: “Further, charging for on-street parking until 8 p.m. in some neighborhoods will directly impact many restaurants that bring pedestrian-scale vitality to our business districts.”

As an example, the letter cites the Pacific Place Garage, where the city has implemented double-digit rate hikes twice during the Great Recession — in September of 2008 and again in August of 2009.

“As parking rates increased, occupancy levels decreased: Empty parking spaces, whether in a garage or on-street, are wasted assets that have negative impacts on business and by extension, the City’s tax base,” argues the letter.

The business leaders urged the Council to hold off implementing SDOT’s changes in rates and hours.

Council members need to promote both available parking spaces and “the economic vitality of our city,” it adds.